Humanitarian Response to the crisis in Gaza
Recent developments & impact of the conflict on civilians:
The Israeli operation entered its 16th day. According to Ministry of Health (OCHA), at least 854
(275 children and 85 women) Palestinians killed and more than 3681 (1362 children and 528 women) injured. Exact figures are not available due to insecurity, rising number of casualties, and difficulty in taking out the injured from collapsed buildings. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and damaged resulting in the displacement of thousands of people.
The newly established daily temporary humanitarian cease-fire continued today (11:00 -14:00 hrs oPT time) with violations. There is need for a full and permanent cease-fire to allow round the clock humanitarian assistance programmes to respond to the huge needs.
It is estimated that 400,000 people, most of them in Gaza city, do not have access to piped water. Two essential water mains, one is a 10 inch pipe connecting the middle area to Al-Nuseirat camp and the other, a 20 inch pipe connecting Al-Safa wells to Gaza city, are damaged. More sewage is flooding into the streets as the result of the damage to the sewage network. Gaza city wastewater treatment plant was hit on Saturday (10 January).
WFP launched Operation Lifeline Gaza, a global appeal to ramp up the distribution of food to people caught in the conflict in the oPT. UNFPA delivered RH emergency kits to UNRWA to be transported to Gaza; UNFPA also assigned staff to support the work of the emergency operation room of Ministry of Health. The emergency operation, responsible for following up on the health situation in Gaza, has been established in the Palestinian Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO and other international and local partners.
Residents in Gaza Strip received on Saturday (10 January) air-dropped leaflets warning them that the Israeli military was about to step up operations against militant targets there and that they should take necessary precautions. Gazans cannot cross a border now, as the perimeter of the territory is sealed off from all sides.
